Now rewritten and re-released, this first Grayson novel follows private investigator Luke Grayson, who finds himself falling for a beautiful, no-nonsense college professor with a secret that could tear them apart. Original.
In this first ever short story collection, New York Times bestselling author Francis Ray takes us on five steamy, sexy adventures. From a timid, dowdy duckling who turns into a confident, sexy swan which sends her into the arms of a handsome artist to a bridesmaid's explosive encounter with the best man to an unproven actress who is being wooed to the stage by a handsome Broadway director. From a journalist's very steamy night with an old flame to a woman who pretends that she is dating a wealthy businessman but never imagines he would show up to collect on that claim. Experience just how much Francis Ray can turn up the heat!
Finding the courage to escape her abusive marriage, Lilly Crawford leaves her husband and her hometown. When her car breaks down in Louisiana, she meets neurosurgeon Adam Wakefield, who was blinded by car thieves. Unsure he will ever recover his sight or his life, Adam sinks into depression. But when Lilly is hired as his caregiver, and the two spend long hours together, an unexpected bond develops.
Nine years ago, Michelle Grant was at rock bottom--until a chance meeting with a stranger gave her hope...and her first delicious taste of passion. Now a successful businesswoman, Michelle still remembers the man she knew only as B.J.. And when fate brings them together again, the feelings she had for him come rushing back. But as soon as Brad Jamison speaks, Michelle realizes that the caring man she once knew is now a hardened businessman without warmth or tenderness, and he doesn't remember her... Brad has heard the rumors that Michelle's success may be due more to her looks than her brain--but he doesn't believe them. He knows how hard it can be for a black woman to get ahead in business. Indeed, when Brad finally meets Michelle, her head for business impressed him--while her almond skin and smooth curves send his mind reeling. She seems so sweet...even familiar. But if he discovers the shared past that only she remembers, will it tear them apart forever?
When Claire and Brooke lose their jobs when their company downsizes, they start their own business and find the path to success and happiness can be a rocky one indeed.
Desperate to escape her abusive marriage, Lilly Crawford files for divorce, then slips away from her small east Texas hometown with little more than the clothes on her back. She points her twelve-year-old car east, hoping to find a new beginning. When her car breaks down in Louisiana, Lilly finds unexpected employment as the caregiver for a wealthy neurosurgeon named Adam Wakefield, who lost his sight in a recent carjacking. At first, this handsome, brooding man reminds her too much of the angry husband she left behind and she reminds him of how far he has fallen from the self-assured man he once was. But as the two spend long days together, an unexpected bond develops---one that will be deeply tested. For Lilly must confront her violent husband before she can ever hope to move on and truly discover a second chance at life and love. This stunning story is gripping and unforgettable tale told with Francis Ray's trademark emotion and passion.
Bestselling author Francis Ray continues her romantic saga of the Taggert clan--daring in business and even more reckless in romance--in this sizzling story of unexpected love.
With Just One Kiss Francis Ray Bestselling author Francis Ray chronicles the lives and loves of the Grayson family and their friends—and friends-of-friends who just might have a change of heart... Cicely St. John is not impressed by her friend C.J. Callahan's so-called passion in life: running a New York City bar that he inherited from his uncle. So why can't Cicely stop thinking about the dance they shared at their mutual friends' wedding—or the mutual attraction she felt in C.J.'s arms? As far as C.J. is concerned, Cicely is a snob whose "passion" in life—writing for fashion magazines—is as pretentious as she is. So why can't he keep his eyes off her? C.J. has a business to run. And Cicely has a job opportunity in Paris. Neither of them even has time to think about romance right now. But maybe, just once, the two could test their friendship...with just one kiss.
St. Louis R.N. Shannon Johnson needs a break from her hectic job and her unsatisfying long-term romance. The parcel of Texas land she'd recently inherited is just the refuge she craves--until fellow landowner Matt Taggart challenges her to prove she has what it takes to work the sprawling ranch.
In her unforgettable new novel When Morning Comes, Francis Ray delivers an emotionally powerful tale about the families we build, the choices we make, and how we find love and family along the way. Dr. Cade Mathis learned early that he was not the son of the man who raised him. His adoptive father, a cruel, bitter man, had always been quick to tell him that he was a bastard and an embarrassment to the rich society family whose daughter got pregnant with him. So when Cade received a full scholarship to college, he was only too happy to leave the only home he had ever known behind and never looked back. Now a successful doctor and one of the best neurosurgeons in the state, the only thing he still wants are answers about where he came from. What he doesn't expect to find is Sabrina Thomas, the new patient advocate at his hospital, or how this woman will lead him to the family he has been searching for and a love he never expected to find.
In this new novel from the national bestselling author Francis Ray, a bad girl falls on hard times, and forgiveness and redemption are the only things she has left. Broke and living in a shabby motel, beautiful bad girl Jana Franklin has become an outcast in the elite Dallas society she once ruled. With her divorce from wealthy Gray Livingston, her dubious past, and no skills to claim, Jana is unable to support herself. Without friends and without hope, she has no one she can depend on but herself. Then one night she stumbles (literally!) into Olivia Maxwell's store, Midnight Dreams. There she meets Tyler Maxwell---the first man she can't maneuver, toy with, or fool. After this chance meeting, tough girl Jana learns that it takes more than scheming to get her man.
Kristen Wakefield grew up the privileged, beloved daughter and sister of a wealthy family...yet she felt eclipsed by the achievements of her older brother, Adam, a renowned neurosurgeon. In New Orleans, Kristen believes she now has the opportunity to prove herself and forget a rather disastrous past relationship. But life is much harder than she expected in the Big Easy. Then she meets a man from her past, Rafe Crawford...a man battling his own demons and keeping his own secrets. The beautiful, but down-to-earth Angelique Fleming has always had to fight to get what she wanted in a world dominated by men and she has the chip on her shoulder to prove it. Which is why she takes great pleasure working at a local strip club, hoping to expose a few naughty little secrets of the community's upstanding men. But before she gets all the dirt, she's going to find out a few things about life, men, and forgiveness she thought she already knew. Claudette Thibodeaux Laurent comes from old New Orleans money and had always adhered to the family code: honor above all else. But she shocks polite society when she marries a man much younger than herself, a man everyone suspects is only after her money. Claudette has done her duty to her family and now she wants a little happiness for herself. And yet doubts eventually begin to creep in and she isn't sure which Maurice loves more: her or her money, as his desire for the finer things in life become more and more lavish. Just exactly how much is her happiness is going to cost her? Told with Francis Ray's trademark emotion and passion, Somebody's Knocking at My Door is a powerful story of betrayal and forgiveness, love and healing.
Rochelle Alers' "Stand-in Bride" Savannah wedding planner Katherine Langdon agrees to coordinate the "wedding of the season" between a spoiled debutante and her French fiance for one reason--the gorgeous father of the bride. Now she hopes that the wedding won't be the only occasion worth remembering... Gwynne Forster's "Learning to Love" Working for the United Nations has given Sharon Braxton a passion for other cultures--and for a Nigerian prince. What can stand in the way of their love besides two vastly different worlds? The other bride his father has arranged for him to wed... Donna Hills' "Distant Lover" Can anything be more glamorous than a job that takes career-minded Mia to the Caribbean? Yes! A hot, sexy hunk from Barbados, who wants to sweep her to the altar, but his old-fashioned values keep driving them apart. And the intense passion is too irresistible to ignore... Francis Rays' "Southern Comfort" A bridesmaid for the eight time and not the bride, political fundraiser Adrienne Summers is fed up. Worse, she finds a major problem at this wedding--the Best Man. They're fighting about her clothes (too sexy), her behavior (too flirty), and his macho views (wives shouldn't work). it sounds like they just might be falling in love!
Four of today's hottest romance writers invite you to come home for the holidays, where the spicy smells from the kitchen, the warm embrace of family, and the gifts of Kwanzaa are just the beginning of a magical season filled with true love and sensual delights... Be careful what you wish for. That's the lesson a fine brother with a wounded heart learns when an eccentric old woman grants him a wish for true love--if he's not too blind to see it--in Francis Ray's The Wish. Beverly Jenkins spins a soul-touching tale of a soldier reunited with the woman who deserted him as they discover that love isn't just sweeter the second time around, it's downright decadent in Homecoming. In Monica Jackson's The Way Back Home, a biracial young woman sets out to spend Kwanzaa with the African-American family she never knew and finds and extra gift in the strong, loving professor who wants to teacher her about her heritage...and so much more. When a mild-mannered high school principal battles small-town prejudice over a Kwanzaa celebration, he fins an unlikely ally in a fiery woman from his past in Geri Guillaume's moving story, The Seventh Principal. The love of a good man. The hope of a new family. The promise of a fantasy fulfilled. This soulful collection of holiday stories proves there's more than one reason for gettin' merry...and they all lead straight to the heart.
Gina Rawlins is dealing with a cheating husband, a messy divorce, two unhappy children, and a floundering travel business when the very handsome new owner of the local B&B, Max Chaneau, enters her life. Not only does he make her heart pound, but it soon becomes clear that they need each other. Max needs to turn the B&B around and the first thing it needs is a woman's touch. And not just any woman. He offers to redesign her website for a bit of interior design help. As they work closely together, Gina realizes that her ex-husband wasn't her only chance at love, even if Max has some scars of his own. However, when her ex (and all his baggage) abruptly reenters the picture, Gina's love life is turned upside down, while her daughter and son are ecstatic to have their father home again. However Gina is left wondering what she should do? Be with the man she loves or take back the father of her children for the sake of her family?
Presents a collector's edition of three titles including Sandra Kitt's "Serenade," in which Alexandra Morrow vows never to be vulnerable to love again, until jazz musician Parker Harrison strolls back into her life to reclaim her heart.
Nathalyia Fontaine has been the sole proprietor of the restaurant Fontaine since her husband died four years ago. She hasn't dated anyone in all those years, choosing not to open her heart again, or risk revealing her dark past. That is, until she meets Rafael Dunlap. Rafael is a hostage negotiator with his own set of problems. Though he loves women, he vows he'll never marry because his job is just too unpredictable. He can't imagine leaving a widow and children behind. But his thinking and game plan of loving and leaving changes when he meets Nathalyia. Though she tries to resist him, Rafael sweeps her into a whirlwind romance. When the unexpected happens, and Nathalyia is forced to keep it a secret, she ends things with Rafael before he can break her heart. But when Rafael is in harms way, will Nathalyia resolve to tell him the truth before it's too late? Or will past demons keep them apart forever?
New York Times"-bestselling author Ray's third novel in the Family Affair series, featuring long-lost siblings who find family, friendship, forgiveness, and love.
When Justine Crandall walks in on her husband of six years with another woman, she flees their home, declaring he'll never see her again. And her wish almost comes true when his car careens off a cliff in his pursuit of her. Hours later she finds herself in a hospital, faced with a terrible choice. Will she disconnect his life support because he was a liar and a cheat or because it's the humane thing to do? Or...should she keep faith that he'll revive from his coma? In the meantime, an old love reappears making the decision even more difficult, pitting her heart against her conscience. Justine finds that soon she must choose: be with a man who truly loves her and puts her first, or honor her marriage vows.
All I Ever WantedFrancis Ray Naomi Reese is a divorced mother with a small daughter named Kayla, a new life in Santa Fe, and, finally, some distance from her abusive ex-husband. All she wants now is a home of her own where she and Kayla can finally feel safe. With one bad marriage behind her, she can't even dream of falling in love again. Until she meets Richard... A tall, handsome veterinarian with a warm smile and big heart, Richard Youngblood is the kind of man any woman could fall for. Not only does he have a wonderful way with animals, he's great with little Kayla and—Naomi has to admit—he's easy on the eyes. Richard definitely has his sights set on her, too. But first, Naomi has to free herself from her past—and learn how to love again—before she can have all she ever wanted with the man of her dreams...
Specializing in Cuts, Weaves, Manicures, Pedicures. . . and Passion. Rochelle Alers' Sweet Surrender Manicurist Maria Parker can't help but notice when a hunky financial planner brings his niece into Della's for a manicure. And when he starts to frequent the salon himself for manicures from Maria, she's pretty sure he has more than cuticles on his mind... Donna Hill's It Could Happen to You When Della turned Rosie's Curl and Weave into Della's House of Style, a few things managed to slip through the cracks—and now she's under fire by the IRS. When a by-the-book IRS agent comes to investigate, Della is infuriated by his presence in the salon—and reluctant to admit that she's growing more than a little used to it... Felicia Mason's Truly, Honestly High-maintenance investment banker Sheila needs some serious pampering. On a whim, she decides to get a shoulder-length weave at Della's House of Style, and afterwards visits the salon's lounge, where a sexy D.J. has a song in mind for her... Francis Ray's A Matter of Trust Single mother Hope Lassiter, once a critically acclaimed actress, is now a cosmetologist at Della's House of Style. When a handsome director tries to woo her back to the stage, Hope has to wonder if his intentions are more than professional...
Widow Traci Evans happily sits in on meetings with the lovely ladies of the Invincible Sisterhood solely because they reached out to her first. A loner, Traci feels for the first time she belongs. All of the official members are sweet older women who have lost the love of their lives, their husbands. Unknown to them, Traci is more angry than she is grief-stricken because her husband died in the midst of cheating on her with another woman. Her husband's deception has hardened Traci's heart so much that even close friend and next door neighbor Maureen can't convince her to open it again. But when a playful kiss with Maureen's gorgeous son Ryan turns passionate, Traci starts to rethink everything she knows about love.
Includes Only Hers, in which a former nurse finds love with a neighboring rancher; Heart of the Falcon, in which an engineer has a one-night stand with a family friend; and Break Every Rule, in which a wealthy socialite proves that opposites attract when she falls for a blue-collar guy. Original. 15,000 first printing.
From New York Times bestselling author Franics Ray, One Night With You continues the popular erotic romance Grayson Friends series. Cougars, brush fires, snow storms—rancher Duncan McBride tackles it all without a flinch. But the archeologist who's come to authenticate cave drawings found on his property is the kind of trouble he'd sworn to avoid. Far from the aging academic he was expecting, Raven La Blanc is a stunning woman...and definitely not sticking around this small Montana town once her job is done. The primitive drawings at Duncan's ranch are Raven's ticket to the tenured position she's worked so hard for back in Santa Fe. But there's no denying the attraction between her and Duncan. Maybe, just this once, she can put her work aside and explore the depths of her own heart and soul? One night may be all it takes for Raven to really find what she's looking for...
A trio of romances captures the magic and joy of Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the New Year and includes "Kwanzaa Angel," in which a woman encounters the man who ditched her at the prom years ago during a Kwanzaa celebration. Reprint.
The Wish--never before released as a standalone novella! Previously published in the anthology Gettin' Merry. Be careful what you wish for. That's the lesson a fine brother with a wounded heart learns when an eccentric old woman grants him a wish for true love--if he's not too blind to see it. And don't miss the teaser chapter of A Seductive Kiss (on sale February 2012) at the end of the short story!
A Seductive Kiss Francis Ray Bestselling author Francis Ray celebrates the lifelong bonds between the Grayson family and their friends—with a heartwarming love story years in the making... Dianna Harrington is known throughout the world as "The Face"—the stunningly beautiful spokesmodel for her family's fashion empire. She could probably have her pick of any man she wants. But Dianna would rather kick back and relax with a good friend— namely Alex Stewart, who she's known, and harbored a crush on, her whole life... Ever since they were kids, Alex has been Dianna's protector and pal, a shoulder to cry on. But as the brother of her best friend, Alex always seemed untouchable. Now a handsome, successful New York lawyer, Alex never realized how lonely Dianna's life has been—or how innocent she is in the ways of love. Alex wants more than anything to reach out to her, to heal her heart. But is his desire worth the risk? After a lifetime of longing building up between them, something's gotta give. Maybe all it takes is just one kiss...
Informing her husband that she is ending their marriage, Denise Morrison postpones telling their children of her decision when they return home for the holidays in light of their many personal problems.
NASCAR star Cameron Dunlap is poised to win this year's Sprint Cup. But being a successful race-car driver comes with a price: His own life. Cameron knows that his profession puts him at high risk. Thankfully, his latest visit to the hospital left him intact. That is, until he bumps into Caitlin Lawrence...and is thrust back into his painful past. The one-time love of his life who left him at the altar, Caitlin could never accept Cameron's fast and furious existence. The threat of losing him on the racetrack was just too much for Caitlin—and the young son Cameron never knew he had. Now that this chance meeting has changed their lives forever, will Caitlin and Cameron find a way to recapture what might have been?
The protégé of a world-renowned artist, sculptress Phoenix Banister dreams of one day taking the art world by storm. Few people know that Phoenix has a secret that could ruin her career before it even starts. To protect that secret, Phoenix lives a very quiet life-and that means no scandal and no romance. But her well-ordered world is turned upside down when she meets Morgan Grayson, a powerfully handsome attorney. Morgan isn't the kind of man a woman can ignore-no matter how hard she tries... An avid art collector, Morgan deeply appreciates beauty-especially when it comes in the form of a woman like Phoenix. With her elegant smile and soft, toffee-colored skin, Phoenix takes Morgan's breath away the moment he sees her. But he senses that the woman he is falling in love with has something to hide-something not even his soft kisses and tender embrace can reveal. When Morgan finally discovers the truth about her past, will he still think Phoenix is the woman of his dreams?
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